Rosacea Remission Extended with Ivermectin 1% Cream

Initial treatment with once-daily ivermectin 1% cream (Soolantra/Galderma) resulted in longer remission for patients suffering from moderate-to-severe papulopustular rosacea, compared to the initial treatment with twice daily metronidazole 0.75% cream.

Researchers studied two patient groups who were successfully treated for 16 weeks with either ivermectin 1% cream or metronidazole 0.75% cream.

The data in the new study, Part B, focused on a 36-week extension of the phase 3 Assessment of a Topical Treatment in Rosacea: Activity, Compliance, Tolerability (ATTRACT) study (Part A) published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

In the new study, the researchers assessed rosacea patients every four weeks for up to 36 weeks.

The results indicated median time to first relapse was 115 days in the group using ivermectin 1% cream, while only 85 days in the patients who used metronidazole 0.75% cream.

Also, relapse rates at the end of the study were 62.7% in the ivermectin group compared with 68.4% in the metronidazole patients.

The results showed the most commonly reported side effects were skin burning sensation and skin irritation.

Hilary Baldwin, MD, medical director at the Acne Treatmnt and Research Center, reported that she anticipated using ivermectin 1% cream as an adjunctive therapy to Oracea for patients with severe papulopustular rosacea. However, even though she typically uses the medications together, she now has the option of using Soolantra cream as a standalone treatment.

“The benefit of using Soolantra cream is that it extends remission longer than metronidazole, giving patients the opportunity to take a ‘drug holiday’ from their prescription, without necessarily losing any progress with their treatment,” Baldwin concluded in a statement to Dermatology Times.